A Guide to the Paul J. Thompson Papers, 1919-1963

Correspondence, awards, research and course material, financial records, speeches, and book manuscripts record Paul J. Thompson’s professional career as a University of Texas Journalism faculty member from 1919 to 1959. Contains the manuscript of his book, Professional Responsibilities in Journalism.

Paul J. Thompson was born in Quincy, Illinois on September 26, 1890, one of three children of William F. and Calpernia (née Oldenhage) Thompson, and was raised in Kahoka, Missouri. Thompson entered the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri in 1910.

In September 1919, Thompson joined the faculty of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas as an adjunct professor. He received an M.B.A. from the university in August 1927, which he earned while teaching. He continued his graduate studies in the summers of 1930 and 1931 at Columbia University and the University of Chicago before being promoted to full professor at UT in 1929.

Thompson was elected national president of the American Association of Schools and Departments of Journalism for 1946-1947 and served on the Council on Standards of Journalism that designed accreditation standards for journalism education programs. UT received accreditation, promoting the Department to the School of Journalism and appointing Thompson as Director. The Paul J. Thompson Appreciation Dinner and Fund was established to honor and benefit the School. Thompson retired as Director in 1958.

In 1953, he received the Missouri Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri. Thompson retired as Director of the School of Journalism in 1958, and retired from teaching in the fall of 1959. He devoted himself to writing his book, Professional Responsibilities in Journalism, which he completed shortly before his death on May 22, 1964.

Correspondence, awards, research and course material, financial records, speeches, and book manuscripts record Paul J. Thompson’s professional career as a University of Texas Journalism faculty member from 1919 to 1959. Contains the manuscript of his book, Professional Responsibilities in Journalism.